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TechInternet of Things

Why Dutch Authorities Are Taking Pokémon Go’s Creators to Court

By
Julia Zorthian
Julia Zorthian
and
TIME
TIME
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By
Julia Zorthian
Julia Zorthian
and
TIME
TIME
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 29, 2016, 2:17 PM ET
NETHERLANDS-POKEMON-GAME
Gamers play with the Pokemon Go application on their mobile phone, at the Grote Markt in Haarlem, on July 13, 2016. / AFP / ANP / Remko de Waal / Netherlands OUT (Photo credit should read REMKO DE WAAL/AFP/Getty Images)Remko De Waal — AFP/Getty Images

Thousands of Pokémon Go players have swarmed beaches on a small coastal town in the Netherlands, prompting authorities to reach out to the game’s creators out of concern for the protected areas. Niantic Labs officials never responded, though, so the Hague is taking them to court.

As wind and waves batter the beaches, the Hague is worried the unprecedented swarms of visitors to the Pokestops in Kijkduin are damaging the sand dunes. Niantic Labs will respond to those concerns at a court date, set for Oct. 11, the Guardian reports.

“We had no other choice” the authorities said in a statement.

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The municipality added that the specific aim of taking Niantic to court is “to ban these small virtual animals” in protected areas, as well as from the streets between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

For more about Pokémon Go troubles, watch:

“Kijkduin will remain an attractive place for Pokémon hunters, but there will be less trouble for the residents and the damage to protected areas will be limited,” said the Hague in the statement.

This story was originally published on Time.com.

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